‘We’ve come up from the south. We had the second group from Wagtail Ridge with us, but they got pulled out to help one of the horse studs.’
‘They’re a good team.’
‘Yep. We got them trained in the nick of time.’
‘Have you heard any news from the Ridge? I know they have a shelter point set up there and all the townsfolk are helping out.’
‘I sent some bloke with an injured animal there. I figured either your Anna or our … our mother would be there to help.’
If Justin was surprised by Ben’s reference to their mother, he didn’t show it, for which Ben was very glad.
While talking, they had walked back to the water tank and the two waiting appliances. The four men of Justin’s crew were taking the chance to rest, while the water flowed into the tanker.
‘We’re full,’ Bill told Ben as he checked the hose was properly returned to its place. ‘Ready to move out.’
‘Right.’ Ben turned to Justin. ‘I need to get back to where my guys are.’ He lifted his head and tested the wind. ‘I think the wind’s changing.’
Justin nodded. ‘They said it might. Once we’re full, we’ll follow you to the top of the ridge.’
‘See you there. Be safe, big brother.’
‘Be safe.’
Ben and his companion climbed back into the cab of their vehicle and started to drive away. Ben took one last look in his rear-view mirror. His brother was standing still, watching him drive away.
***
Justin waited until Ben’s unit had reached the road and turned left, back towards the top of the ridge. The fire was getting closer. The smoke was even thicker now. He heard a radio call from the truck and walked back.
‘They’re telling us to pull out,’ one of his men said, his face creased with worry. ‘They want us to go back the way we came and meet up with another crew there.’
‘And let this burn to the top of the ridge?’
‘Yep.’
Justin nodded. That made sense. Once it reached the top of the ridge, the fire would falter. He turned to the resident who was helping resupply his unit.
‘It’s going to come this way. If you’re going to leave, now is the time.’
‘My dad and I. We’ve been through this before. We’re prepared. We’ll stay and look after our home.’
Justin hesitated. The flames were shining brighter through the swirling smoke and an eerie red glow encompassed them. ‘All right. We’ve been ordered to move. Be careful.’
‘We will.’
Behind him, Paul was detaching the hose from the water tank. ‘We’re full.’
‘Okay. Let’s go.’
It only took a couple of minutes to batten down the appliance, get the crew back into the cab and get moving.
Justin drove back to the road and turned east, as instructed by the command centre. Ahead, the fire had already jumped the road. Flames were close on both sides and the heat was overwhelming. Showers of wind-driven embers clattered against the metal sides of the truck and the windscreen. The darkness of the smoke and the strange red glow all around was disorienting. It could be dusk or midday.
‘Get blankets over the windows,’ Justin instructed.
The men around him didn’t move. They were new to this, trainees he’d instructed just a few weeks ago. And they were scared. He could feel it. He had to show them the way. Show them he wasn’t afraid, even if he was.
‘Come on. This truck is built for exactly these conditions. Get those blankets up against the windows. It will cut the heat and protect us all should a window explode.’
